Lightweight Bear Canisters

http://www.bareboxer.com

The contender is smaller but lighter.

I think the Bearikade Scout is the lightest canister on the market (and one of the most expensive too!)

http://www.wild-ideas.net/index2.html

I have spoken to the rangers up there several times and have gotten different answers as to what brands are allowed. As far as I could tell as long as it is a hard sided bear container (no ursacks) you should be ok. It all depends on what yellow yellow has figured out how to open these days….

Edit: I looked at the specs for the bareboxer and it is lighter, smaller and cheaper than the scout. My bad, sorry…..

You might look at these 2 links, but the product shown is not yet "approved" whatever that is coming to mean.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/orwm_2011_day_3_awesome_gear.html

http://www.camp4outdoors.com/media.html

I've just booked a night in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer for my family. They require bear canisters, which will be a new addition to our backpacking kit.

Of course, I really do want to "buy once" on this one. What should I get to optimize usability and minimize cost.

In my case, my immediate need is 1 day food for family of four. But I could also imagine weekend camping for similarly sized groups. (I suppose at some point you end up needing 1 canister for every x people, depending on the length of the trip).

Thanks all!
M

While the bearboxer may be lighter they don't have the volume of the Bearikade which is made from thin yet very strong carbon fiber and thin aluminum end caps. The bear boxer is in comparison made from conventional blastic that has to be much thicker to handle the loads a bear can apply.

The bearikade and bearboxer are approved for use in Yosemite which has some of the worst black bear problems in the country.

"I've just booked a night in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer for my family. They require bear canisters, which will be a new addition to our backpacking kit. "

Are you going to need this regularly? Otherwise the REI in Boulder (on your way to RMNP) rents Bear containers (BearVault).

I just got back from work and measured the volume of my bearikade Scotut and it is about 519 cu in. Thats 80cu in shy of the bear boxer Champ and the bearikade is about 1 lb lighter.

In addition to the scout bearikade also sels the weekender and the expidition. The weekender probalbly has more volume then the bearvault and yet is 1 lb lighter and is the equivelent size to the bearvault and the bearboxer champ.

you can also rent a bearikade container (they only charge for nights on the trail) — they are pricey to buy, but if it's a one time need (or even more), it's pretty affordable and significantly lighter.

https://www.wild-ideas.net/rent.html